Friday, December 30, 2011

Stuck in Customs

Family research is like panning for gold, lots of time hunched over, not knowing when you might find a nugget. Some of my finds lately have come from unlikely sources. The latest gem was from eBay. I stumbled upon a document written to my ancestor Louis de Büren, who was at the time the governor of Lausanne, by a local merchant who had leather goods held up in Aosta. He needed Louis' help in getting them released, which Louis did on June 6th, 1795.

A great find to put it mildly. What I love most is the language. The first line after the salutation is the most memorable. "Jean Jacques Mercier, local businessman, faithful subject of the state, and very lawful servant of your magnificent lordship, with profound respect takes the liberty to present himself." Not exactly Dear Sir.